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In the seventh year of the reign of the Roman Emperor Commodus, who succeeded his father Marcus Aurelius , a certain renowned nobleman named Philip was appointed ruler of all Egypt. Having received this appointment, Philip moved with his wife Claudia and their children from Rome to Alexandria. He had two sons, Avitus and Sergius, and an only daughter, Eugenia, beautiful in appearance and chaste in spirit, whose life is the subject of this account.
Philip ruled Egypt according to Roman laws and the customs of his ancestors. He greatly disliked sorcerers and wizards and persecuted them in every way. He also disliked Jews, going so far as to refuse to hear a Hebrew name. He was most merciful to Christians and, although he expelled them from Alexandria by royal decree, nevertheless allowed them to settle peacefully and serve their God in the outskirts of that city. Philip respected Christians for their purity of life and wisdom. He himself eagerly studied Greek philosophy, in which he also raised his daughter Eugenia, wanting her to acquire a thorough knowledge of philosophy. Philip also taught Eugenia to speak Latin and Greek fluently and beautifully. Possessing a clear mind and diligence, Eugenia easily excelled in the sciences. Whatever she heard or read, she always firmly remembered, cherishing it in her heart as if it were engraved on a copper plate. She was also beautiful in face and slender in body, but even more beautiful and beautiful in the chastity of her thoughts and virginal purity. Therefore, one of the most distinguished Roman dignitaries, Aquilinus, wished to betroth her to his son Aquilius. But when her parents asked her if she would consent to marry this noble youth, Eugenia replied:
– You should choose a husband who is best for you in life, and not by birth, because you will have to live with him, and not with his family.
Other noble and rich young men also wished to betroth themselves to her, but she refused them all, under the pretext that she was not pleased with their way of life, but in reality she avoided marriage out of love for virginal purity, for her only desire and concern was to remain a virgin.
Thus, a beautiful and pure vessel was prepared to receive the Divine peace, and soon true faith followed her good deeds, and Eugenia approached the pure source of piety in purity. The following event marked the beginning of her conversion to God. By chance, or, better said, by Divine providence, she happened to read the book of Epistles of the Holy Apostle Paul. Reading attentively and understanding it, Eugenia learned of the existence of the One True God, Who created the universe. Immediately, her mind, which had long been purified and prepared to receive the Holy Spirit, was enlightened. In her heart, she firmly believed in Christ, but she did not dare openly confess Him with her lips, fearing her parents' wrath.
When, by royal decree, Christians were expelled from Alexandria, whose teachings Eugenia so eagerly desired to hear, she begged her parents' permission to travel to one of her nearby estates, under the pretext of relaxing in rural solitude, but in reality to fulfill her desire. Unaware of Eugenia's intentions, her parents let her go to the estate. Riding in a chariot with her eunuchs and slaves past a monastery located in one of the Christian settlements, Eugenia heard the monks chanting from behind the fence: "All the gods of the pagans are demons, but the Lord made the heavens" ( Psalm 96:5 ). Hearing these words and ashamed of her father's error, she sighed from the depths of her soul and said to her two eunuchs, one named Protus and the other Hyacinthus:
"You have studied the sciences with me sufficiently; together we have mastered the teachings of the philosophers: Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato, the well-known errors of the Stoics and the opinions of Epicurus , and we have also read and studied the works of other sophists and poets. You, of course, understand that all this is fable, having nothing behind it except perhaps a semblance of truth that is deceptive to many. We are also not ignorant of how the Greeks boast of their wisdom, some of whom in every way prove that there is no God, while others believe that there are many gods, and consider some gods greater and others lesser. Christians, however, defeat them all with a single word, saying: "All the gods of the pagans are demons" ( Psalm 96:5 ), for belief in these pagan gods is true madness and leads to destruction. The Christian teaching, "The Lord made the heavens" ( Psalm 96:5 ), openly acknowledges the One God and gives us knowledge of our common Lord. Apostle Paul, whose writings, proving the existence of the One God, I read yesterday and yesterday, teaches in agreement with this. I believe the words of this apostle to be very clear and trustworthy, for they base faith on deeds. In his epistles, the apostle clearly points out the path to salvation, and you, if you wish, can follow his direction. I will no longer be called your mistress, but your sister and fellow servant, for we have a common Lord and Father—God. Let us be of one mind and one heart, like brothers, and resolve together to turn to Christ. I have heard that the Christian Bishop Elius built a monastery here, where the monks unceasingly glorify God with hymns day and night. The bishop entrusted the monastery to a certain priest named Theodore, whose miraculous deeds are said to include restoring sight to the blind through his prayers, casting out demons, and healing all manner of illnesses with just a word. They also say that women are not allowed into this monastery under any circumstances. Therefore, cut my hair, dress me in men's clothing, and take me there at night. We will arrange for our return to the city to be late in the evening. All the slaves will walk ahead of the chariot, and you two will follow. I will quietly dismount from the chariot, and we will disappear secretly from everyone. The chariot will return home empty, and we will go to the servants of God.
Eugenia's words, as well as her intention, pleased both eunuchs, and when night fell, they acted as they had previously agreed. Late in the evening, on their way back to the city, they secretly lowered Eugenia from the chariot, so that none of the slaves noticed. Hidden away, they dressed her in men's clothing, cut her virginal hair, and headed for the monastery. Before reaching the monastery, they saw the approach of Blessed Elias, Bishop of Heliopolis . It was the custom in Egypt for a bishop to visit monasteries and churches with the people accompanying him, singing. So here, too, with Bishop Elias, before and behind him, walked about ten thousand men, singing and exclaiming:
“ The way of the righteous is straight; You make straight the path of the righteous” ( Is. 26:7 ).
Hearing these words, Evgenia said to her friends:
– Consider the meaning of these verses and notice how all their words apply to us. When we discussed the True God, we heard the chant: “All the gods of the pagans are demons, but the Lord made the heavens” ( Psalm 96:5 ). Now, when we have set out on the journey by which we wish to come to Christ, turning away from idolatry, behold, several thousand people, meeting us, unanimously sing: “The way of the godly is straight; You make straight the path of the godly” ( Isaiah 26:7 ). And it seems to me that this did not happen by chance, but by divine will. Let us see where this people is heading, and if it is to the same abode where we are headed, then let us join them and walk together, as if their friends.
Having joined the people walking with singing, they asked one man along the way:
- Who is this old man riding on a donkey among the people surrounding him?
And they heard in response that this was Bishop Elius, a Christian from his youth, raised in a monastery. When, as a boy, he was sent to fetch fire from a neighbor, he carried burning coals into the field of his cloak, and his clothes were not scorched: so pleasing was he to God even in childhood.
"A few days ago," the man continued, "a certain sorcerer named Zarius appeared in these parts, deceiving people with various tricks and charms. He called Bishop Elius a deceiver, but claimed to be a good teacher sent to the people by Christ. A multitude of Christians gathered and came to our father, whom you see, and said: 'We hear Zarius claiming to be sent by Christ. Therefore, either accept him into fellowship with us, or, if his words are false, reject him, and we will follow whichever of you emerges victorious in the verbal contest.'" The holy Bishop Elius agreed to debate with Zarius: he placed his trust in Christ, just as Zarius placed his trust in his demons. A day was appointed for the debate, and a place was prepared in the middle of Heliopolis. The sorcerer Zarias appeared with his magical charms, while the bishop came with divinely inspired words and, blessing the people, said, "Now you know the Spirit of God, who has come in the flesh, is from God" ( 1 John 4:2 ). Turning then to Zarias, he began a great verbal contest with him. But the sorcerer was skillful in his deception, proud and unruly in speech; he sought to win not by the power of truth, but by shameless verbosity. Therefore, the meek and gentle bishop was unable to out-argue him, and the people mourned that Zarias was gaining the upper hand in the contest. Noticing this, Elias demanded that the commotion subside and said to the people: "We must now follow the Apostle Paul's instruction to his disciple Timothy: 'Do not engage in disputes about words, which is of no profit but rather to the ruin of the hearers' ( 2 Tim. 2:14 ). But lest anyone think that we are citing this apostle's testimony not to clarify the truth but out of fear, let a fire be lit in the middle of the city and let us both enter the flames, and whoever of us is not consumed is the true messenger of Christ." This proposal pleased all the people, and they immediately lit a great bonfire. The bishop began to invite the sorcerer into the flames, but he replied: "Enter the fire first, since you proposed this test." Having crossed himself and raised his hands to heaven, the bishop entered the center of the fire and stood there for about half an hour, surrounded by the mighty flames, yet unscorched by them: the fire didn't touch his hair or even his clothes. He called Zariy to enter the fire, but he, frightened, attempted to flee. The people then seized him and forcibly threw him into the flames. The sorcerer immediately began to burn and would have been consumed completely if Saint Bishop Eliy hadn't delivered him from the fire, half-burned but still alive. After this, the sorcerer was expelled from the borders of Heliopolis in disgrace. And the bishop, whom you see, is accompanied by the people everywhere with divine hymns.
Listening to this story, blessed Eugenia rejoiced in spirit, was amazed, sighed deeply and, finally, began to earnestly ask her husband who was talking to her (his name was Eutropius):
"I beg you, my lord, to inform the holy bishop of us, who desire to turn from idols to Christ. We are brothers and have decided by common consent to become Christians and to dwell together in this monastery, never to be separated from one another."
“Keep silent about this now,” the husband answered them, “until the bishop enters the monastery and rests a little from his journey, and when the time is convenient, I, in accordance with your desire, will inform him about you.
When they approached the monastery, the monks came out to meet the bishop and sang: “We have received, O God, Your mercy in the midst of Your people” ( Ps. 47:10 ).
Eugenia, resembling a youth in her attire and short hair, and her eunuchs entered the monastery along with the bishop and the people. After celebrating the Divine Liturgy in the church and refreshing himself with a small meal around ten o'clock in the evening, as was the custom among those who fasted, Saint Elius rested from his labors and saw the following vision in a dream: some men were carrying in their arms, and honoring, as a god, with sacrifices and adoration, a female statue resembling one of the Hellenic goddesses. It was grievous for the bishop to see how people were seduced into idolatry, and he addressed the goddess among them:
– Is it fitting for you, a creation of God, to be revered by people as God and to receive from them the worship that is due to God alone?
Hearing these words, the goddess immediately left the men who were worshiping her and followed the bishop, saying:
“I will not leave you and will not depart from you until you bring me to my Maker and Creator and hand me over to Him.
Awakened from sleep, the bishop pondered this vision. Then Eutropius came to him and said:
"Master! Three youths, brothers, unanimously abandoning idolatry and desiring to be numbered among those serving Christ in this monastery, followed you into the monastery today and tearfully begged me to proclaim their presence to your sanctuary."
The bishop exclaimed with great joy:
– I thank You, Lord Jesus Christ, for allowing me to hear such good news today!
And he commanded that the three youths be summoned immediately. When they entered alone and stood before the bishop, the saint first said a prayer and then began to converse with Eugenia in a fatherly and loving manner, inquiring about their names, origins, and homeland. In maidenly confusion, Eugenia humbly replied:
"We come from the glorious city of Rome, and our homeland is Rome. We are brothers in the flesh. The name of the first of us is Protus, the other is Hyacinthus, and I myself am called Eugenius."
Looking at her tenderly, Bishop Eliy said:
"You are rightly called Eugenius, Eugenia! Your name 8675 accords with your spirit, for you have a noble, courageous soul and are a man in every way. Keep your resolution firmly in mind, conquer your feminine nature, and you will mature and become established in Christ, for whose sake you, being a wife, present yourself as a husband, changing your feminine form and name out of love for God. I say this to you without rebuking you, without censuring your feminine nature, and without wishing to distract you from your purpose, but so that you may know what care God has for you, who has revealed to me everything concerning you, concealing nothing: who you are, how you will come to me, and who else will come with you to me." So, Eugenia, try to appear no less courageous in spirit than in your appearance: for my Lord has revealed this to me, that you have prepared yourself as a pure vessel for Him, by keeping your virginity immaculately and rejecting the temptations of earthly life.
Then turning to Protus and Hyacinth, the saint said:
"You are slaves in name, but free in spirit, for your spirit is not enslaved to anything earthly. Therefore, it is not I, but the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, who speaks to you: 'I no longer call you slaves, but friends' ( John 15:15 ). Blessed are you for this freedom of yours, but even more blessed for your fellowship and union with Christ: for you unanimously agreed to take His yoke upon yourselves, and did not hinder Blessed Eugenia in the least in her intention, but together with her, you burn with spirit and desire to serve the Lord. And when she departs this life, you, together with her, will be deemed worthy of the same crowns and rewards from the Lord as she was."
No one was present during this conversation between Eugenia and the eunuchs and the bishop. Elius ordered Eugenia to remain in men's clothing, for no one knew her secret. And she and the eunuchs did not leave the monastery until the bishop had baptized them all and numbered them among the monastics.
Now we will find out what happened since the saint, together with Protus and Hyacinthus, secretly got off the chariot from the slaves, and how her parents grieved for her.
The empty chariot continued on its way and was already approaching the house, while the slaves still walked ahead, unaware of what had happened. The household servants came out with lamps to meet Eugenia. Upon reaching the chariot, they found it empty and, unable to see their mistress, were greatly perplexed. Her father, mother, brothers, and all the servants were dismayed, and cries, wailing, sobbing, and loud weeping were heard everywhere. Inquiries began throughout the city, and the people of Alexandria were amazed at what had become of the ruler's daughter. Numerous slaves were dispatched everywhere to find Eugenia. They searched not only the entire city but also the entire land of Egypt, and they did not forget to inquire along the way or in the homes of anyone: merchants, farmers, and travelers. But nowhere could they hear anything about the precious pearl that the Right Hand of the Most High had guarded for the time being in his treasury.
The parents cried for Evgenia day and night and sobbed inconsolably, often calling out her name, tormenting their faces, sprinkling ashes on their heads and falling to the ground from exhaustion and heartache.
"Eugenia, our beloved daughter," they cried, "our light, where have you hidden yourself from our eyes? Our consolation, where have you hidden yourself? Our hope, have you really perished?"
The parents wept for their daughter, the brothers wept for their sister, and the slaves shed tears for their mistress. All the citizens also mourned Eugenia and sympathized with the ruler's grief as their good lord and master. Then they began to consult magicians and sorcerers and offer numerous sacrifices to idols, hoping that one of the gods would divulge the lost maiden. But even from them they could glean nothing. The magicians and sorcerers remained silent, being deceitful and ignorant, and the idols, being soulless. Finally, one of the Alexandrians concocted a fable to console the ruler: they claimed to have been revealed that the gods had fallen in love with Eugenia's beauty, abducted her to heaven, and numbered her among themselves. The grieving father believed this fable, found some consolation in his sorrow, and with difficulty transformed his weeping into joy. He immediately ordered a gold idol cast in the likeness of his beloved daughter, erected it in a prominent place in Alexandria, and began publicly venerating Eugenia as a new goddess with new festivals and numerous sacrifices. He hoped this would alleviate his grief. However, Eugenia's mother, Claudia, and brothers, Avitus and Sergius, did not believe the fable and continued to weep incessantly and inconsolably for Eugenia.
Meanwhile, the blessed virgin, concealed under male clothing and a name, and considered a man by her austere way of life, lived in the aforementioned monastery, zealously pursuing monastic obedience and serving God. She made such progress in divine teaching that within two years she knew the entire Holy Scripture by heart; her soul was so filled with peace that all revered her as one of the angels. No one could recognize her feminine nature, concealed by the power of Christ and her immaculate virginity, and by her life she amazed even perfect men. Her speech was humble, welcoming, meek, and laconic, filled with the fear of God and edification. No one came to church services before her, and no one left after her. She was a benefit and edification to all: she consoled the grieving, rejoiced with the joyful, and humbled those given to anger and wrath with a single word. The sight of her humble life had such an effect on the proud man that it immediately humbled his pride and made him meek.
A short time later, she received from God the gift of miracles. When she visited a sick person, her very presence immediately drove away the illness and restored complete health. Her two eunuchs, Protus and Hyacinthus, remained with her constantly and imitated her life, her faithful servants and friends.
Three years after her conversion to God, the abbot of that monastery died, and the assembled brethren unanimously prayed to the blessed one to become their abbot. They were unaware of the God-protected secret that their Eugenius was not a man by nature, but a woman. They saw her wise, blameless, and God-pleasing life, incomparably surpassing that of all the fasters of that monastery, and therefore they long besought and urged her to accept their leadership. On the one hand, fearing that it would be inappropriate and unlawful for her, as a wife, to govern their husbands, and on the other, ashamed to deceive and reject the fervent prayers of so many venerable monks, the saint said to them:
– I beg you, brothers, bring the Holy Gospel here.
And when it was brought, she continued:
"It behooves Christians to first inquire of the Lord Christ Himself regarding any choice. Let us see what Christ commands us in this matter and obey His will."
When the Gospel was opened in the presence of all the brethren, the following words were found: “Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave” ( Matthew 20:26–27 ).
After reading these words, the saint exclaimed:
"Here I am, obeying Christ's command and your request. Let me be the servant and slave of your love."
And everyone rejoiced at her consent. And the so-called Eugenius, in reality Eugenia, accepted the abbacy of that monastery and became a captive and slave to everyone, laboring ceaselessly for all the brethren, carrying water, chopping wood, cleaning all the cells, and serving everyone with great zeal. Eugenia chose the gatekeeper's cell for her residence, lest she appear superior to the others with the superiority of the cells. While toiling with the monastery's affairs, she never missed the usual church rules: matins, the hours (and on special days, the Liturgy), and vespers. And any hour in which she failed to give praise to God seemed wasted to her, and she carefully ensured that not a single hour passed without praising God. In her hands was work, and on her lips was unceasing prayer. And she received power over unclean spirits, to cast them out of people, and was given the grace to perform other miracles, which there is not enough time to describe in detail. But we will tell how the persecution of the saint began, as well as the rest of her life and suffering.
There was a woman in Alexandria named Melanthia, rich in wealth but poor in good deeds. She fell ill with a fever and suffered from it for over a year. Her estate was near the monastery where Eugenia lived. One day, hearing that a monk named Eugenius healed all manner of illnesses, she hastily went to him and begged him to heal her affliction. Taking pity on her, Eugenia anointed her with holy oil, and she immediately expelled all the harmful substances within her that had been causing her illness. Recovered, she returned to her estate on foot. A short time later, she prepared three vessels of pure silver and, filling them with money, sent them to her selfless physician in gratitude for the healing she had received. But Eugenia refused the gift and sent it back to her, saying:
"We abound and overflow with all blessings in our God. I advise you, beloved Melanthia, to distribute all this to the poor and needy."
Seeing her gifts returned, Melanthia was deeply saddened. Arriving at the monastery, she pleaded with countless prayers and entreaties, urging Eugenia not to refuse the gifts she had brought. Finally, with great difficulty, she managed to persuade Abbot Eugenius to order the vessels taken to the church's vessel room, where the items for church services were kept.
From then on, Melanthia began visiting Eugenius frequently and developed a strong love for him, unaware that beneath his male attire and name lay a woman. Seeing him so young and handsome, Melanthia couldn't imagine such a youth could live in perpetual purity, and she began to attribute her own healing not to his holiness but to his healing skill. And so, day by day, she became increasingly consumed by a desire to have sexual relations with him, seeking only the right time and place to fulfill her desire. And so, one day, while at her estate near the monastery, Melanthia, inflamed with impure lust for the young monk, feigned illness and sent him a request to visit her alone and help her, as he had the first time.
Having come to her, blessed Eugenia sat before the bed of Melanthia, who was suffering not from illness but from carnal lust. Looking at Eugenia's face, Melanthia could no longer conceal the fire that had long simmered within her. She opened her shameless lips and began to speak lewdly, seducing him and drawing him into sin, just as the Egyptian woman, the wife of Pentephrius, had once seduced Joseph ( Gen. 39:7–20 ).
"I am consumed by an unbearable desire and love for you," she said, "and my spirit cannot rest until you consent to become master of all my property and my husband. Why do you needlessly mortify yourself with unnecessary abstinence and willfully waste the days of your youth in poverty and want, so severely exhausting your body and withering the beauty of your face? Here are vast estates, here is a multitude of gold and silver, precious stones and expensive clothing, a great number of slaves, male and female! Here, finally, you see me, a beautiful young woman, widowed only this year, and childless, so that there is no heir to my riches. Inherit them yourself and become my lord and master."
Melanthia said all this and much more while seducing Eugenia. But Saint Eugenia, ashamed of this harlot's shamelessness, answered her sternly:
"Be silent, wife, be silent! And do not attempt to harm me with the venom of the ancient serpent. I see that you have made yourself a great abode for the devil. Depart from the servants of God, temptress, and let your riches be inherited by those who are like you, who are lustful. Our riches lie in poverty with Christ. As for marriage, let not even our minds ever consider carnal pleasures. O blessed purity, we will not sell you for corruptible riches! O holy virginity, we will not defile you with fornication! O Mother of God and Virgin, in whom I trust, I will not betray my vows! We have one marriage—our love for Christ; we have one riches—the blessings prepared in heaven; we have one inheritance—the knowledge of the truth!"
Having said this, the blessed one immediately stood up and went to her monastery, while Melanthia, filled with inexpressible shame, and at the same time with anger, went to the city and, appearing before the ruler, said to him:
"A certain Christian youth, posing as a doctor and living in a monastery near my estate, came to my house, and I allowed him into my room to heal me. But he, considering me one of those dishonest and shameless women, began to coerce me into this evil deed, first with flattering words, and then with violence. And if I had not screamed and the slave had not rushed to my call, this shameless youth would certainly have violated me with violence, like a barbarian with a captive."
These words of Melanthia's brought the governor into a great rage, and he immediately sent servants to seize not only the young man Eugenius, called a physician, but also all his companions, and, having bound them in iron fetters, to keep them in chains. But since one prison could not accommodate all the monks who were with Eugenia, they were distributed among various prisons. Word of this event spread not only throughout Alexandria but also to the surrounding cities, and the Christians suffered much insult and abuse from the pagans, for all who heard Melanthia's story believed her words to be true, as she was renowned among the pagans for her integrity and noble birth.
A day was set for the monks' trial and execution. The governor intended to give some of them to wild beasts, burn others with fire, hang others from trees, and destroy others with various other torments. And so, when the appointed day arrived, a multitude of people gathered not only from the city but also from all its environs. A great number of Christians also gathered, among them many priests and several bishops. They came to witness the end of God's innocent servants (Christians were convinced of the falsity of the slander), to take their remains, and to give them a respectable burial.
As soon as the ruler Philip arrived with his sons Avitus and Sergius and sat in the usual place reserved for the judge, Blessed Eugenia, whose secret no one had yet discovered, was immediately brought to the center of the spectacle, along with her eunuchs and other monks, bound in heavy iron shackles. Then the people loudly cried out:
- Let these wicked lawless ones perish!
The ruler ordered that the pure lamb of Christ be brought closer to him for testing the leader of the wicked (as they said), that all the instruments of torture be laid before her, and that the ready and formidable executioners be brought before her.
Saint Eugenia stood before her father and brothers at the trial, innocent of any wrongdoing, concealed beneath a man's monastic robe and with her head bowed low so as not to be immediately recognized. Turning to her, the governor asked sternly:
"Tell us, lawless Christian, did your Christ command you to commit vile deeds and, through cunning, entice honorable women to fulfill your wicked desires? Tell us, impious one, how did you dare enter the house of the most illustrious Lady Melanthia and force her noble purity to defilement? Cunningly posing as a physician, you have proven yourself an enemy and a rapist. And so you will receive a fitting punishment for your shameless and audacious intentions, and, being evil, you will perish an evil death."
Thus the ruler spoke with great anger, and blessed Eugenia meekly answered him:
"My Lord, Jesus Christ, whom I serve, teaches purity and promises eternal life to those who preserve immaculate virginity. We can immediately prove that Melanthia is falsely accusing us. But it is better that we ourselves suffer and not lose the fruits of our patience than that she, defeated and exposed, should suffer any harm. However, if you swear to me in the name of your kings that you will do this false witness no harm, then we will immediately question her about the sin of which she innocently accuses us, and we will see that she herself is found guilty of it."
After the ruler had sworn to her and promised to fulfill her request, Eugenia turned to Melanthia and said:
"Melanthia, your very name 8676 bears witness to darkness and obscurity! You have prepared many different torments for Christians with your false slander. So, insist that we be tormented, burned, and beaten! But convince yourself that Christ's servants are not as you falsely portray them. Bring forth that servant you called an eyewitness to our sin, so that from her lips the lie may be exposed and the truth revealed."
But the slave girl who was brought in added lies to lies to please her mistress, for how could she say anything against her.
"I know," she said, "that this shameless youth often commits adultery with common women. He is insolent, has repeatedly approached me, and finally dared to make a move on my mistress. Entering her bedroom at one o'clock in the afternoon, he first conversed with her like a doctor, concerned for her health, then began to speak shamelessly, and finally, he wanted to commit violence against her. He would likely have accomplished his unlawful deed if I had not quickly summoned the other maids and delivered our mistress from the hands of this fornicator."
The judge ordered the other servants to be summoned, but they too testified against Monk Eugenius, aiding their mistress. Then the governor, in great anger, exclaimed:
- What can you say to them, wicked one, when so many witnesses defeat you and expose your lawlessness?
"Now the time has come to speak," replied Saint Eugenia, "for the time of silence is over. The time has come to freely confess the truth, lest the lies so immeasurably levied against us triumph, and lest evil rumors about Christians circulate among the pagans. Truly, I desired to keep my secret until the end of my life, and thereby expose at the future judgment of Christ the lies levied against us and prove my purity before Him, out of love for Whose sake I have preserved it. What I have so carefully concealed until now, I must now reveal, lest lawlessness triumph over innocence, and pagan impiety mock and deride a pious and chaste Christian life. I will reveal the truth not out of vanity, but for the glorification of the name of Jesus Christ. For such is the power of this holy name that even wives who live in the fear of God are deemed worthy of the dignity of their husbands, and people of one sex cannot be higher in faith than people of the other sex, as the Christian teacher Apostle Paul says: "With God there is no distinction between husband and wife, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" ( Gal. 3:28 ). So I, too, desired, for the sake of Christ, in whom I believed, whom I loved with all my soul, and in whom I placed all my hope, to be more a husband than a wife in life and in appearance, preserving my virginity for the one pure and incorruptible heavenly Bridegroom.
As she spoke, she tore her garments from above, revealing part of her holy and pure virginal body, and the ruler saw that she was a woman. Then Eugenia told him.
"My lord, you are my father according to the flesh, Claudia is my mother, and Avitus and Sergius, who sit with you, are my brothers. I myself am your daughter Eugenia, who renounced the world and all its pleasures out of love for Christ. Here are Protus and Hyacinth, my eunuchs, with whom I accepted the teachings of Christ. And Christ has shown such grace upon me that in His mercy He has made me conqueror of all lusts and passions, and I unwaveringly believe that He will preserve me to the end as I am now."
She had not yet finished speaking when her father and brothers, from her words and also from certain features of her face (for they were gazing intently at her), recognized that she was indeed Eugenia. Immediately, with unspeakable joy and tears, they sprang from their seats and rushed to her, embracing her, kissing her, weeping with joy and rejoicing at having suddenly found Eugenia, without whom even the light of this world had ceased to be pleasant to them. Immediately, her mother, Claudia, was informed that her daughter Eugenia had been found. She came in haste and, upon seeing her beloved Eugenia, did everything she could, showering her with affectionate words, looking upon her daughter as if risen from the dead. Seeing what had happened, the people were amazed and cried out loudly:
– One Christ, one true God, the Christian God!
And the multitude of Christians who came with their bishops and presbyters to bury the bodies of the martyrs also sang, filled with unspeakable joy: "Thy right hand, O Lord, is glorified in strength; Thy right hand, O Lord, hath slain the enemy. Who is so great a God as our God, who revealeth secret things, and exposeth hidden things, who catcheth the wise in their own craftiness?" ( Ex. 15:6 ; Ps. 77:14 ; Job 5:13 ).
Then they brought the gold-woven garments with the precious ornaments in which Eugenia's parents and brothers had dressed her against her will, and seated her in a high place so that everyone could see her and rejoice with them at the recovery of their lost possession. They immediately freed the monks who had been imprisoned with Eugenia from their shackles, showered them with affection, and began to honor them as true servants of Christ.
Melanthia was filled with great fear and shame, and before she could leave the place of judgment, fire fell from heaven upon her house and burned it to the ground, along with all its riches and treasures, so that not a trace of anything remained. And there was great joy for all the believers in Alexandria and throughout Egypt—especially when the ruler Philip himself, along with his wife, sons, and entire household, were baptized and came to believe in our Lord Jesus Christ. A great multitude of pagans then received holy baptism, and peace was restored to Christ's Church.
Soon after these events, the ruler Philip sent a letter to the kings Severus and Antoninus in 8677 , writing that it was not beneficial for the Roman Empire to expel Christians from their cities, as they were so vital to the common good of the people. The kings heeded his advice, and in all Egyptian cities, Christians regained their homes, lands, churches, and dignities, enjoying peace—and Christian piety flourished.
But holiness is always accompanied by the enemy's envy, and sin wars against virtue. So now, some of Alexandria's most distinguished idolaters were grieved to see the number of Christians increasing day by day, while the number of idol worshipers dwindled. Instructed by their father, Satan, they went to the kings with slander against Philip, the ruler.
"For nine whole years," they said, "Philip governed Egypt well and strictly observed the royal laws. But we know not what has become of him now: he has changed so much. He has abandoned the service of the gods of our fathers and is drawing the entire people to worship Him whom (as everyone claims) the Jews executed in Palestine by crucifying Him. There is no longer respect or due obedience to your royal laws. He has preferred impious Christians to us all, many of whom, visiting the temples of our gods, heap countless blasphemies upon them, calling them wood, insensitive stones, and soulless idols."
With such and similar speeches they moved both kings to anger against Philip, and they sent him the following message:
"The most divine king who reigned before us and knew your piety and veneration of the ancestral Roman gods, appointed you in Alexandria not as governor, but as if you were king of Egypt, and decreed that you would rule this land uninterrupted until your death, and that no one else would be appointed in your place. We also preserved this honor inviolably, but only as long as you remained a friend and servant of the gods. But now we hear of you that you have abandoned the gods and are disinclined toward us. Therefore, we command that you either return to your former worship of the Roman gods and then continue to enjoy your former honors and glory, or, if you continue to reject the gods, immediately resign your office and renounce your estates."
After reading the royal letter, the ruler pretended to be ill in order to have time to sell all his property and distribute it – partly to churches, and partly to the poor.
Blessed Philip possessed the gift of eloquence and convinced and converted many noble Greeks to Christianity with his speeches, and strengthened and confirmed the faint-hearted and wavering in faith.
When his estate was sold and distributed, he resigned his position as governor, and all the Alexandrian Christians immediately elected him as their bishop. Some time later, another governor, named Terence, arrived from Rome in his place. He wanted to kill Philip but feared the people, for everyone was ready to sacrifice their lives for their bishop. Therefore, he hired secret assassins, who, entering the saint's presence and finding him alone praying to God, struck him with swords and, leaving, disappeared. This immediately became known throughout the city, and great weeping, wailing, and confusion spread everywhere. Fearing that the people would discover his treachery, Terence ordered the assassins to be immediately found and imprisoned, bound with heavy chains, as if intending to subject them to cruel torture and execution. Blessed Bishop Philip survived three days after receiving his wounds and, having died a martyr's death in the Lord, was also deemed worthy of a martyr's crown. He served as bishop for a year and three months. He was buried within the city at a site known as Isium, in the church he himself built.
After holding the murderers in prison for some time, the governor Terence released them, as if by royal command, and then everyone realized that the holy bishop had been killed by his order. After the death of her father, Saint Eugenia gathered Christian virgins around her and continued to serve God with them, leading a life of virginity. Her mother, Claudia, built a spacious guesthouse and dedicated herself to serving wanderers and the sick. After a considerable time, she returned to her homeland of Rome, taking with her both sons and her blessed daughter Eugenia, and settled there on her estate. The Roman government favorably received Avitus and Sergius, and one of them was appointed governor of Carthage in 8678 , and the other, the royal governor of Africa.
Meanwhile, Saint Eugenia, living in Rome, secretly brought many daughters of noblemen to Christ and exhorted them to preserve their virginity. At that time, there lived in Rome a young maiden named Basilla, of royal lineage, orphaned by the death of her parents. She was entrusted to her uncle, Elin, until she came of age, and betrothed by the kings to a youth renowned for his courage and nobility, named Pompey. But the marriage was delayed for several years, for Basilla remained very young after the death of her parents. Frequently hearing of the name of Christ and of Eugenia, of her virginal and chaste life, and of the miracles wrought by the power of Christ, her spirit was inflamed, for the Lord was mysteriously calling her to His heavenly abode. She had two desires: to learn truly about Christ and to see Eugenia. But she could not go to her and converse with her, both for fear that her fiancé would find out, and because of the persecution of Christians then underway in Rome. Therefore, Vasilla sent a devoted servant to Eugenia with the request that she, at least in writing, tell her about Christ and teach her how to believe in Him.
Saint Eugenia was overjoyed to receive such a messenger. Deciding with her mother and the eunuchs that a letter could not teach as well as words spoken by a man, she ordered the eunuchs to prepare, wishing to send them as a gift to Vasilla. Sending them, Eugenia wrote:
“Behold, I send you as a gift, my beloved sister Vasilla, two of my faithful servants, the eunuchs Protus and Iacinthus, who grew up with me from my youth, and may they be a living letter from me to you.
Vasilla joyfully received the eunuchs, seemingly slaves but in fact apostles of Christ. Conversing with her day and night, they taught her the holy faith, for she constantly listened with attention, joy, and tenderness to the divine words coming from their lips, and with all her heart she came to believe in the one Christian God, the Creator of all. Informed of this, the Pope, Blessed Cornelius ( 8679 ), secretly came to her and baptized her in the name of the Holy Trinity. Her uncle, Elin, also came to believe in Christ, so Vasilla could easily see Eugenia and enjoy holy and pleasant conversation with her. Every night, Eugenia came to her house unhindered, under the protection of her uncle.
Thus, Saint Eugenia and her blessed mother Claudia converted many people to Christ. All the Roman Christian widows found refuge with Claudia, and the virgins with Eugenia, finding rest for body and soul. Every Saturday evening, Saint Pope Cornelius sent prayers and psalms to Claudia's house , so that they would pray and glorify God all night. In the morning, when the rooster crowed, he himself would come to them, baptize those converted to Christ, celebrate the Divine Liturgy, and administer the Divine Mysteries to all the women. And the Church of God multiplied and flourished amidst persecution, like a lily among thorns. Oh, how many virgins the holy virgins Eugenia and Basilla converted to God, how many women Saint Claudia converted, and how many young men the blessed eunuchs Protus and Hyacinthus converted!
When the impious emperors Valerian and Gallienus came to power , the persecution of Christians intensified. The emperors issued orders to kill all Christian teachers, and they began to seek out the holy Pope Cornelius for murder.
Having met Saint Basil at this time, Saint Eugenia said to her:
“The Lord revealed to me that you will soon receive a martyr’s crown for your virginity.
“The Lord also deigned to inform me about you,” answered Vasilla, “that you will receive a double crown of martyrdom - one for the sorrows and misfortunes you endured in Alexandria, and the other for the blood that you will shed in suffering for Christ.
Then blessed Eugenia raised her hands to heaven and said:
– Lord Jesus, Son of the Most High, born of the Virgin, Your Most Pure Mother, for our salvation, lead all the virgins entrusted to me by You in incorruptible virginity into the eternal Kingdom of Your glory!
Then turning to the multitude of Christ’s virgins sitting with her and Vasilla, blessed Eugenia said:
– The time of the grape harvest has come, when the clusters are pruned and then offered as wine on the royal table. And there is not a single powerful kingdom or high rank that would not be adorned with the blood of these clusters. So you, my branches and clusters of my heart, be ready for the Lord. Virginity brings us closer to God, virginity makes us like the Angels, she is the mother of eternal life, the friend of holiness, the safe path to heaven, the mistress of joy, the leader of the power of miracles, the warmth and crown of faith, the strength and confirmation of love. For nothing should we strive so much, for nothing should we care so much as to remain in immaculate virginity, but even more glorious is to die for virginity. What are the vain and deceptive pleasures of this world, which, when they appear, cause temporary joy, and when they disappear, eternal suffering; which bring momentary laughter, only to strike with eternal weeping; which display the quickly fading flowers of pleasure, only to bring everlasting sorrows; They promise a happy life in this present age, only to consign you to eternal torment in the future. For all this, O most beloved virgins, who have struggled with me until now in the struggle of virginity, continue to abide in the love of the Lord, as you have begun. The days of temporary mourning have come for you, so that you may rejoice and rejoice in eternity. I commend you to the Holy Spirit and believe that He will keep you pure and blameless. Do not seek to see my physical face any longer, but look with spiritual eyes upon my deeds and actions.
Having exhorted them thus, Eugenia kissed each of them and consoled the weeping ones. Then, having prayed with Basilla and kissed her, they parted. That same day, one of Saint Basilla's servants went to her mistress's fiancé, Pompey, and said to him:
"My lord, I know that the kings promised you my mistress in marriage, and yet you have been waiting for her to come of age for over six years without consummating the marriage. I have come now to inform you that you will no longer be able to marry her, for her uncle and tutor is a Christian, and she herself has converted to the Christian faith with all her soul and now despises not only you but the entire world. She has two eunuchs, sent to her by Eugenia, and she reveres them as her lords, kissing their feet daily, as if they were immortal gods. These eunuchs are the teachers of Christian sorcery."
The slave girl's story made Pompey extremely angry; he jumped up from his seat and immediately went to Elin, Vasilla's tutor.
"These days," he told him, "I have decided to marry. Therefore, allow me to see the maiden whom the invincible kings have given me as my wife."
The teacher immediately guessed that Pompey had learned of their conversion to Christ, and he replied:
"While Vasilla was young and unintelligent, I cherished and protected her like the apple of my eye, raising her appropriately. But now she's reaching maturity and wisdom, and by virtue of her noble birth, she desires to be completely free and subject to no one. Therefore, it's not in my power to allow you to see her: that depends on her own consent."
Pompey, becoming even more enraged, came to Vasilla's home and began knocking on the doors, ordering the gatekeepers to inform Vasilla about him.
But upon learning of his arrival, Vasilla refused to let him in. "It is not proper for a young man," she replied, "to converse alone with a maiden, and it is indecent for a maiden even to look at a man's face. Besides, I do not know with what intention Pompey has come to me."
Having left in shame, Pompey persuaded some nobles and, together with them, threw himself at the feet of the kings with a complaint about his bride and Eugenia.
"Oh, most illustrious kings," he said, "help your Romans and banish from the city the faith in the new God preached by Eugenius. These people, calling themselves Christians, have long been wreaking havoc on the people. They trample our laws, despise our gods as vain idols, and distort the laws of nature itself by not allowing a bride to marry her betrothed. If there are no marriages, then where will people be born, and if they are not born, then over whom will you rule? Where will the armies and strength of the Roman people come from? Who will conquer their enemies? How will our fatherland exist, and how will human life unfold?"
Pompey, shedding tears, said much more of the same. Emperor Gallienus and all his nobles took pity on him and immediately issued a decree that the maiden Basilla must either consent to marry her betrothed or be executed by the sword. Concerning Eugenia, he ordered that she sacrifice to the gods or die in torture. Furthermore, the emperor decreed that all Christians be put to death—and not only Christians, but even those who dared to harbor Christians were also to be executed.
When the royal command reached the holy virgin Vasilla, she answered loudly and fearlessly:
“My bridegroom is the King of kings, Christ, the Son of God, and besides Him I do not want to know another, corruptible husband.
After these words, she was immediately stabbed to death. Two holy eunuchs, Protus and Hyacinthus, were also seized and dragged to the idol temple to worship the impure god Dius . But barely had the saints entered the temple when the idol fell at their feet and crumbled to dust and ashes. The city governor, Nikitius, learning of this, ordered their heads cut off, believing that they had destroyed the god Dius with their sorcery. He summoned Saint Eugenia and began questioning her about the art of magic. In response, the saint began to speak in detail and wisely about the One True God, whose very name the demons fear and tremble at, so much so that they fall along with the idols. Ignoring her words, the governor ordered her taken to the temple of Diana for sacrifice, but before she could even enter, the temple collapsed, along with the idol. Upon learning of this, the emperor ordered her thrown into the Tiber River with a stone tied to her neck. But when this was done, the stone immediately came loose, and the saint walked on the water as if on dry land. Then they seized her again and threw her into a fiercely heated furnace, but the furnace suddenly cooled, leaving the saint unharmed, and she emerged completely unharmed. She was then cast into a deep, gloomy pit and starved for ten days, but a ray of divine grace continually illuminated the saint, and food was sent to her from heaven. In the pit, our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Eugenia and said:
"I am your Savior, whom you have loved and love with all your soul and all your heart, and for whose sake you endure these sufferings. I will clothe you with great glory and fill you with inexpressible joy. Let it also be a sign to you that I will receive you into My heavenly dwellings on the very day I was born on earth from a pure, virginal womb."
This appearance of the Lord filled the holy virgin's heart with inexpressible joy, and she joyfully awaited the time of her separation from the body. On the very day of Christ's Nativity, an executioner was sent to her in the pit, who slew her with a sword .
Thus did the holy and venerable virgin Eugenia accept the end of her temporal life and her earthly sufferings, and the beginning of an eternal and blessed life. Her blessed mother, Claudia, and her household took her holy and honorable body and buried it on the family estate near Rome, where Saint Eugenia had buried the bodies of many believers during her lifetime.
When one night her mother was weeping at her tomb, Saint Eugenia appeared to her with many other virgins, surrounded by great glory, and said:
"Rejoice and be glad, my mother, for Christ has admitted me to the joy of the saints, and my father to the ranks of the patriarchs. On the resurrection day He will receive you also into eternal joy. Command your sons, my brothers, that they faithfully observe to the end the Christian calling they received in baptism, so that they may be my brothers not only in body but also in spirit, and that we may thus offer our entire lineage as a pleasing gift to God."
As the saint spoke thus to her mother, the voices of a multitude of holy angels could be heard, singing and glorifying the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the One God in Trinity, to whom, and from us sinners, be glory and praise forever. Amen. Source: https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Dmitrij_Rostovskij/zhitija-svjatykh/1132